I’m sure we are all in need of a lift right now, and fortunately Folk Fortnight is coming up, and we are going to have some kind of a virtual version of it.

It will mostly be one enormous watch-party, and I’m absolutely thrilled that many of our former visiting musicians have offered to contribute. There will be YouTube clips, short videos on tunes and songs you can learn, and a wealth of info and further links for Will Pound, Dan Walsh, Matt Price, Beccy Hurst, Alasdair Paul, Jon Doran, Nath, Arian and Oisin. Plus contributions from Jess, Rowan, Callum and several other newcomers that we had planned to invite this year. Fynn and Nick will send us something from Germany (so there are some advantages to the online version of Folk Fortnight!) and we’re looking at a few possible collaborations, maybe involving our own staff, parents or pupils.

Some of these musicians have CDs you could buy to download, and it might be possible that as some of these musicians are teaching on line, they could offer a private on-line lesson, but this isn’t yet confirmed - I’ll send out a ParentMail with more info on this when I know more. Friday 22nd is the hand-in date for most of the musicians who are still at university, so we’ll start our planning next week. Let’s see what happens - you could have a socially-distanced sing-around in your sitting room, or a careful ceilidh in your kitchen!

The next edition of ‘Loose Ends’ is due to be published on Friday 22nd May.

Please forward any items for possible inclusion to loose-ends@elmfield.com by 2pm on Thursday 21st May. Please note the usual guidelines apply, no attachments will be included and entries should be no more than 75 words. Thank you.